It’s one thing to get blindsided by one disaster that uproots your life and turns everything on its collective ear, but it’s something else entirely to get blindsided twice in a period of weeks. That is exactly what happened in Wilbraham, Massachusetts recently, as property owners had to face the double bill of tornadoes and the severe storms that followed in their path.
On June 1, a tornado tore through the town, causing widespread damage. This past week, severe storms roared through the area, knocking out traffic signals, uprooting trees, and stringing debris across roads, yards, swimming pools, everywhere. Once again, residents began the painstaking process of having to rebuild their lives in the wake of disaster.
One couple was the victim of a double whammy, losing their home, then moving into an insurance company provided mobile home, which was subsequently destroyed by the most recent wave of severe weather. Another man suffered a heart attack and the death of his spouse during the storms.
As of midweek, the entire town of Wilbraham was without power, and by Friday, some 2800 residents were still in the dark. The high winds also damage the roof of the local high school’s pool and destroyed the scoreboard on the football field.
Severe weather is a problem that every area of the country faces, and it almost always brings with it the threat of water damage. While it is impossible to wholly prevent such damage from occurring, it is possible to at least keep it to a minimum.
For starters, make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and free of obstructions. You want to make sure that they are properly channeling water in the right direction, away from your home. Likewise for the landscaping. Make sure it slopes away from your home for a distance of no less than ten feet (but preferably more). In high rainfall situations, the ground can only absorb so much water….once the ground is saturated, the excess has to go somewhere. If the ground slopes toward your home, guess where the water is going to go?
You should also install a sump pump set up (with backflow valve) in your basement, this will help funnel excess water out before it can back up and become a problem. Elevate appliances and other electrical items to keep them out of range of flood waters, and move all valuables to higher levels in your home to prevent them from being damaged or destroyed.
In the event of severe weather or tornadoes (or hurricanes, or typhoons, or whatever), be prepared to evacuate. Know where you are going, and have an evacuation bag ready to take with you. Stock the bag (one for each member of the family) with a change of clothes, money, food and bottled water, as well as a radio to monitor weather conditions, and anything else you may need.
To handle any water damage that may occur, contact Water Damage Local.com. Our nationwide network of providers are available 24/7, IICRC certified, and able to handle even the most severe water and storm damage problems.
Contact Water Damage Local.com today to get connected to a qualified water restoration provider in your community today.
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